Contributors

Monday, May 31, 2010

Hey pallies, here's a cool post for the webber's past taken from the illustrious New York Times featurin' some politico commentary by a dude tagged Mr. Frank Rich first posted on October 19, 2003 (to view this as usual, just click on the tagg of this Dino-gram). Nows pallies, as you know ilovedinomartin tries it's very very Dino-best to stays likes a-politico...so knows that ilovedinomartin isn't tryin' to take a politico stand by postin' this, simply sharin' more of how our Dino is bein' lifted up is so many varied and different ways.

Found likes two thin's of Dino-note here. First loves how Mr. Frank states....""By at long last re-embracing its inner Dino, the right is returning to its ideological roots." It woulda do pallies of all stipes and types to embrance their "inner Dino."

And, on a theme began yesterDinoday....found this ref to Ashton Kutcher, the Rat Pack, and our Dino....."P. Diddy, Ashton Kutcher and Jamie Foxx have taken to promoting themselves as the new Rat Pack -- Frank, Dino and Sammy, respectively." Seems that Mr. Kutcher himself sees his persona in the Dino-light.

Kutcher certainly seems to have the Dino-tude in many many ways...but coulda he pull off playin' our Dino....at least in his earlier years? ilovedinomartin continues to seek your Dino-thoughts on this matter. Dino-devotedly, DMP

The Rush Of the New Rat Pack

By FRANK RICH

Published: October 19, 2003

RUSH LIMBAUGH trades cigar boxes stuffed with cash for his fixes of ''baby blues'' in Palm Beach. Bill Bennett bets everything but the milk money on the slots in sex-drenched Vegas. A Kennedy-by-marriage movie-star-turned-governor freely admits to a ''rowdy'' past of soundstage gropings in Hollywood.

Ring-a-ding-ding! The Rat Pack is back!

This is good news for the right, if not necessarily the country. Pop culture has long been a lose-lose proposition for the moralistic, post-Ronald Reagan conservative movement. In the 1990's, Mr. Limbaugh, Mr. Bennett and company fell into the habit of portraying the 60's, epitomized by that draft-dodging, pot-smoking, skirt-chasing hippie Bill Clinton, as the fount of all evil. And yet those 60's are also the template for much of the music, mores and social change that now define mainstream American life. What to do? If you demonize the 60's outright, voters think you are a scolding old biddy; the hippest stars likely to leap onto your bandwagon are Bo Derek and what's-his-name who used to play TV's ''Major Dad.'' Meanwhile, the Dixie Chicks and Bruce Springsteen become fellow travelers of the opposition.

But this year the right seems to have finally found its place in the klieg lights. It has not only chosen to countenance (and then some) pill popping, gambling, boorish womanizing, seamy show-biz glitz and the Kennedy mythos -- but it has done so at the exact moment when that Rat Pack spirit is resurgent in the culture as a whole. While the Rat Pack belonged to the 60's, too, it belonged to the early, pre-Beatles, pre-Vietnam 60's -- the conservative 60's. It's just the kind of hedonism that fits this moment -- ''swanky nightspots, sharp outfits, neat haircuts, stiff drinks and cigarette packs free of Surgeon General's Warnings,'' in the summation of Shawn Levy's nostalgic history, ''Rat Pack Confidential.''

Should Iraq become the new Vietnam, then it will be time to dust off those Jefferson Airplane LP's. For now, the Rat Pack 60's are king. Vegas has far surpassed its one-time rivals, Chicago and Atlanta, as the nation's No. 1 spot for conventions. Gambling, whether in Nevada, in 47 other states or on the Internet, has become a bigger American growth industry than McDonald's. One survey shows that even a large number of high school students, some 30 percent in all, have adopted Mr. Bennett's high-rolling habits; surely no former secretary of education has ever been so successful a role model to impressionable youth.

Radio City is charging nearly $100 a seat this weekend for ''Sinatra: His Voice, His World, His Way,'' an extravaganza in which cinematic illusion allows the star to sing from six feet under. Steven Soderbergh's remake of ''Ocean's Eleven'' was such a hit that he and its cast are reconvening to make ''Ocean's Twelve.'' P. Diddy, Ashton Kutcher and Jamie Foxx have taken to promoting themselves as the new Rat Pack -- Frank, Dino and Sammy, respectively. Red meat and Cadillacs are staging comebacks commensurate with that of the martini.

On the right-wing editorial page of The Wall Street Journal, the celebration of the Rat Pack revival's cultural values began on the Schwarzenegger victory night. ''He's cool,'' wrote the paper's deputy editorial page editor, Daniel Henninger, in his mash note to Arnold. ''It looks as if the first party to get totally wired-in to a mega-celebrity is, incredibly, the G.O.P. Something weirdly attractive was coming off the Schwarzenegger camp's victory stage on TV round about midnight Tuesday.'' To make his case, he swooned over Maria Shriver, Jay Leno's ''funny introduction,'' Rob Lowe, Eunice and Sargent Shriver and ''a sea of young, attractive faces.'' Somehow, Mr. Henninger missed Gary Busey, but never mind. ''Liberal pundits will mock this scene unmercifully,'' his essay concluded, ''but in terms of mass-market politics it was as hip as any politician could ever hope for.''

Mock this erotic fantasy? Coming from the same editorial page that devoted years to tut-tutting about the whereabouts of Mr. Clinton's penis? Not me. The scene on that stage, as Mr. Henninger writes, is just too hip, too totally, incredibly wired. If Arnold strikes some Rat Pack purists as a faint echo of Peter Lawford's immigrant origins, dubious father and Kennedy connection, his movie career and sexual exploits both literally and figuratively outstrip those of his predecessor. Nor can anyone doubt that Mr. Leno, the official Schwarzenegger toastmaster, is a late-night wit on an uncanny par with his antecedent, Joey Bishop. If only Rush had found a way to join the election night tableau, it would have been complete: as we know from his brief but memorable run as a commentator on ESPN's ''Sunday N.F.L. Countdown,'' he can be more out-of-it than Sammy Davis, the candy man himself.

For Republicans with long memories, the party's new affection for Rat Pack naughtiness must feel like coming home. Though Sinatra and his pals were known for their liberal Democratic politics in the early 60's, they moved to the right once the 60's rock culture shoved them to the show business sidelines. By 1972, Sammy Davis was hugging Richard Nixon at the Republican convention in Miami Beach; two years earlier, Sinatra had stumped for Reagan's re-election in California. It was also then, Wil Haygood reports in his sparkling new Davis biography, ''In Black and White,'' that the party's ''unofficial envoys to Hollywood were Donald Rumsfeld, an aide to Nixon, and his wife, Joyce.'' In Mr. Haygood's account, we learn that the Rumsfelds hung out with Sammy at the pool in Vegas and even obtained an audience with an apparently pill-popping Elvis. To this day, we can see the Sinatra influence in our secretary of defense's hair-trigger temper, though he has a way to go to emulate Sammy's sartorial flair.

That the Rat Pack is part of the right's DNA only makes ideological sense. Conservatives are supposed to oppose big government's heavy-handed regulation of sex, drugs, gambling, taxes and smoking. If a guy wants to benefit from sweetheart deals with the mob -- or Enron executives -- it's a free country, isn't it? Somehow conservatism in the 1990's wandered from the Goldwater model, choosing instead to pry into bedrooms, campaign against Hollywood and preach like Billy Sunday. By at long last re-embracing its inner Dino, the right is returning to its ideological roots.

But for Republicans to capitalize fully on their born-again hipness in the coming election year, more conservative leaders will have to follow The Wall Street Journal's example and get with the program. Too many of them are sounding like liberal wusses, trying too hard to ''explain'' and ''understand'' and ''rationalize'' Arnold and Rush's bad behavior. Typical is Gary Bauer, the right-to-life presidential candidate of 2000. ''From a moral standpoint, there's a difference between people who go out and seek a high and get addicted and the millions of Americans dealing with pain who inadvertently get addicted,'' he told Newsweek. Hey, man, an addict is an addict: don't try to make those hooked on the prescription drugs known as ''hillbilly heroin'' seem like unglamorous, second-class junkies. Rush is a bigger star than ever, and when he goes on ''The O'Reilly Factor'' to emote about his detox, he'll be bigger still.

Some on the right have also tried to airbrush Governor-elect Schwarzenegger's well-documented history of sexcapades, hoping to attribute his antics not to the man himself but to The Los Angeles Times, which provided the unexpurgated account. This is as silly as liberals' putting the blame for Monicagate on the Starr report, and politically self-defeating besides. The voters, including women, have spoken: they didn't want the groper's march on Sacramento to be impeded by his sex life. Arnold's private behavior is no longer merely Clintonesque -- it's been elevated to Kennedyesque and Sinatraesque. As The Wall Street Journal says, he's cool.

Not every Rat Pack aficionado, though, is yet convinced that the new Rat Pack lives up to the original. One dissenter is the writer Kitty Kelley, the author of ''His Way,'' the unauthorized biography of Sinatra, who is now completing an unauthorized biography of the Bush dynasty. ''Even at their worst the Rat Pack was entertaining and usually spoofed themselves, their babes and their benders,'' she says, whereas the new one ''skulks around in parking lots buying drugs from their maids and creeping into casinos. No pleasures there, just shameful pathologies which they deny until the handcuffs are clicked.''

But in Ms. Kelley's view the biggest shortfall is the absence of a central figure like Sinatra ''who was so feared that a mere snap of his fingers would make grown men, fueled by Jack Daniel's, toss a piano off the penthouse balcony of the Fontainebleau Hotel.'' The only candidate she can see for Top Rat is George W. Bush. As she points out, Barbara Bush already fits ''the mother/mascot role of Dolly Sinatra -- big, brawling babes who go to the mat for their errant sons.'' Should the president, Governor Schwarzenegger and their gang get Peggy Noonan to glitz up her look, they can do their own remake of ''Robin and the 7 Hoods'' before Steven Soderbergh beats them to it.

Happily, Mr. Bush is already showing signs of rising to his appointed role. As soon as the news broke of Mr. Limbaugh's pill popping two weeks ago, he saluted the broadcaster as a ''great American.'' R.I.P., ''Just Say No.''

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Hey pallies, likes with all the talk 'round the web of Director Martin Scorsese suggestin' Mr. Robert DeNiro to plays our Dino in Scorsese's proposed bio of the frankie, I found this Dino-reflection from seven years ago to be very Dino-interestin' indeed.

From the pad tagged "Slate" by a chick tagged Virigina Heffernan comes this oh so so provocative Dino-thought...."Is Punk'd star Ashton Kutcher our new Dino?" Finds Miss Heffernan's comparison of our beloved King of Cool and Kutcher's King of Punk very very evocative for Dino-sure.

Does likes seem that our Dino and the hugely up and comin' Ashton Kutcher woulda be likes possible soul mates. Likes 'specially totally diggs this last paragraph my this Virigina lady....

"All right, so Ashton doesn't sing, and he's not a real delinquent like Dino. Martin boxed; he stole; he could barely read; he knew the mob. He dealt blackjack as a child. He walked all over women. But, like Ashton, he claimed that life was easy, he disdained sincerity, he traveled in a gang, and he let the glint in his eye win him a pass so he could insult and double-cross people—for the honest fun of it. As Martin's biographer Nick Tosches puts it, using that tricky word that gets a new meaning every decade, Dean Martin was a 'punk.'"

So pallies, likes wonderin' whata do you alls think 'bout youthful hipster Ashton Kutcher playin' our Dino? Wills oh so look forward to all your Dino-thoughts...as our Dino always sez...."keeps those cards and letter comin' in." Dino-raisin', DMP btw, pallies, as per Dino-usual, alls you gotta do is click on the tagg of this Dino-gram to read Virgina Heffernan's thoughts on our Dino and Ashton Kutcher in their original format.

Ain't That a Kick

Is Punk'd star Ashton Kutcher our new Dino?

By Virginia Heffernan

Posted Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at 6:52 PM ET

A spectacular-looking punk for a new generationA few years ago, with little fanfare, American pop audiences got what they had long claimed to want: a new Dean Martin—a blithe, vain, jaunty, jerky, prankster party boy who is, above all, spectacular-looking. He's Ashton Kutcher, heartthrob-fool of That '70s Show (Fox) and host of Punk'd (MTV, Mondays 10:30 p.m. ET), a program on which he, in a revision of Martin's notorious roasts, plays tricks on celebrities, and then uses hearty handshakes and some form of guy's-guy hypnosis to persuade them to laugh it off. Like Martin, Kutcher may find that his authoritarian charm is lost on the generation before and after his own, but—for now anyway; no reason to forecast a Martin-like retreat into isolation and regrets—he's carefree.

On Punk'd, under Kutcher's spell, young Hollywood does indeed look like high times. They're all just hanging out: Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Pink, Jessica Biel, Jessica Simpson, Stephen Dorff, Seth Green, the Osbournes. It's a truant's world of pranks and "bits," smart, quick impersonations that cross up their own expectations of star treatment. What good sports. They're not stuck up; Kutcher wouldn't allow it. He's from Iowa, after all—a farm boy who once skinned deer for a living. (Dino, a casino boy, came from Ohio.)

Kutcher finds life in L.A. a goof. Give your keys to a stranger for valet parking?! "Back where I come from, you park our own damn cars," Kutcher commands from the screen. "I could park an F150"—buddy, that's a truck—"in the crack of your ass."

Like Martin, Kutcher can flirt with the camera, solo, and seem to delight himself. Punk'd is his own creation and fiefdom; it's a nifty out-of-towner's reproof to Hollywood. "People go out to parties and try and, like, set trends," he says, as if making a discovery. "You're not cool because you're on the red carpet. I'm going to set a trend. The trend of you getting punk'd."

So far on the series, getting punk'd means getting strip-searched outside the MTV building; being accused of harassment by a child who was in fact lecherous to you; facing hicks in RVs who claim they're your kin; and discovering you're implicated in a motorcycle chop-shop racket. All of these sketches are overseen by Kutcher, who, together with a trio of accomplices, micromanages the whole scene. Kutcher often even feeds his minions lines through a headset. (Significantly, the man himself claims to be immune to punking. Spears once made an incoherent and half-hearted attempt to get him, but he turned the joke around. "You cannot punk me!" he told the camera, fronting like a wrestler. "It cannot be done! It cannot be done!")

The pranks themselves are medium-funny. On other shows in which a celebrity is led on—actually, just on the great Ali G Show—the marks have complex and telling reactions. On Punk'd, the kids look amused and at best dazed, but confident, too, that the contrived messes are only brief hassles that, whatever their seeming gravity, will soon pass. When accused of owning illegal motorcycles, Pink paced around a bit before she told the cops, "Why would I do this when I'm a famous musician with plenty of money? I'm calling my lawyer."

That's generally as far as it goes for the punkee. Once you've been punk'd, and just as you look a little shaken, you're accosted by Kutcher, who gets you in his joyful aura. If you're good, if you're—check it—cool about it, he might give you the chance to punk someone else, and, whoosh, you're in with him, talking in his emphatic way, loafing around his favorite places, enjoying his golden protection.

"He handled it well," Kutcher explains of Justin Timberlake, whose belongings were repossessed by actors claiming he owed back taxes. "He was cool about it, so I was like, 'You know what Justin? I'm going to let you get somebody back. We decided to throw you a bone.' " In earrings and a basketball jersey, Timberlake would seem to lack some of the runway insouciance of Kutcher, a former model who wears open shirts, gold crosses, and baseball caps from outfits like NASA. Still, Kutcher briefly anointed Timberlake, and no one doubted it. On another episode, he did the same for Spears, who then joined him as a co-host, dressed disconcertingly like him. "My girl," Kutcher said. "And I take care of her. And it's all good like that." Under her cap's visor, in raggedy pigtails, Spears looked euphoric, like the girls Dino used to deign to embrace in public.

All right, so Ashton doesn't sing, and he's not a real delinquent like Dino. Martin boxed; he stole; he could barely read; he knew the mob. He dealt blackjack as a child. He walked all over women. But, like Ashton, he claimed that life was easy, he disdained sincerity, he traveled in a gang, and he let the glint in his eye win him a pass so he could insult and double-cross people—for the honest fun of it. As Martin's biographer Nick Tosches puts it, using that tricky word that gets a new meaning every decade, Dean Martin was a "punk."

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Hey pallies, likes been meanin' to post this cool Dino-feature from our pallie Risen2b for quites a Dino-few, but likes been so much Dino-action that just finally gettin' 'round to it.

At his happenin' blogg "Blog-O-Rama" (clicks on tagg of this Dino-gram to goes there) comes this trib to the Dino and the kid classic "At War With The Army."

Thanks to Risen2b we haves this whole Dino-caper to enjoys on the web. Enjoys the patter that our pallie shares as well. Great to see Dino-devotion at so so many pads all over the web... Dino-delightedly, DMP

Our Late Night Movie Feature: Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

Technorati Tags: at war with the army,dean martin,jerry lewis,comedy,full-length movie,1950

At War With The Army

With Jerry Lewis' almost maniacal control over any material that features him in it, I was surprised to find out that the first movie collaboraiton between him and Dean Martin is in the public domain and is available at Archive.org. Thought I would toss it up since it's always great to see Dean Martin in the movies and at that time Jerry Lewis was fresh and funny.

This is a fun WWII-era B&W movie, full of Dean Martin along with Jerry Lewis and his ridiculous goofiness! Featuring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in their first collaboration. Jerry is a hapless private and Dean is the bossy First Sergeant of a slipshod platoon at a stateside training base. Jerry and Dean were friends who grew up in the same neighborhood before Uncle Sam made GIs out of them. All of the stereotypical military comedy characters are present, including the loudmouth drill instructor, the conniving supply sergeant, the doting corporal and the bumbling, hen-pecked company commander.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Hey pallies, it's been all over the web the past few days, so likes I'm sure that all you Dino-holics knews this Dino-news by now, but thought I oughta at least make Dino-mention of it here. A reporter tagged Ranjan Das Gupta of "The Hindu," the web pad of India's national newspaper was interviewin' film director Martin Scorsese 'bout the release of his most recent flick, "Shutter Island," when the interview turned towards Scorsese's plans to film a bio of Frank Sinatra. As you will note below, this great director's choice for our Dino is Robert DeNiro. Just wonderin' what all you pallies think of this Dino-choice. Below is the paragraph that speaks directly 'bout Scorsese's thought. To read the whole interview, just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-gram to goes to "The Hindu" pad. Dino-reportin', DMP

RANJAN DAS GUPTA

The conversation veers towards his plans to do a film on the life of Frank Sinatra. “I've had it in mind for a long time. Even the initial script is ready. I'm yet to spot the actor who can bring back Frank Sinatra alive on screen. My choice is Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro as Dean Martin.”

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Hey pallies, likes gotta 'fess up that I likes totally totally loves the really Dino-random ways that our Dino makes appearances all over the web. Today's Dino-post comes from the pad UNIX Weblog....founds out from our pallies at Wiki that UNIX is likes some sort of computer operatin' system. To views this in it's original format, likes chicks on the tagg of this Dino-gram.

Anyway pallies, likes somebody at this pad has such stellar Dino-taste as to post that really rad Dino-trailer from "Murder's Row," where our Dino proclaims that MR is "a grabber and we dos our best." It's filed under the tagg "Solaris" which musta have somethin' to do with the UNIX system, and of course in MR-speak referrin' to the Karl Malden villian figure, Solaris.

Murderers Row Directed by Henry Levin and Dean Martin, Ann-Margret, Karl Malden handsome top agent Matt dies a tragic death in his bathtub – the women mourn the loss. But that’s just wrong for her last top-secret mission: he will find Dr. Solaris, inventor of the Helium laser beam, powerful enough to destroy an entire continent. It seems Dr. Solaris has been kidnapped by a criminal organization.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Hey pallies, now here is some cool new Dino-treasure.....a double set of playin' cards in a cool tin....all puttin' the accent on one of our Dino's greatest flicks...."Ocean's 11."

From the pad of Jesus Kunze (clicks on tagg of this Dino-gram to goes there) comes this ad for this groovy Dino-creation. For a mere $14.98 plus shippin' this here Dino-stuff can me mine, can be yours pallies!

If you follow the link at Kunze's space you will goes to Amazon where said Dino-treasure cans be procured.

This definitely woulda makes any Dino-holic's card playin' so so full of Dino-pleasure. Checks it out pallies! Dino-reportin', DMP

Ocean’s 11 Playing Card Set Featuring the Cast of the 1960 Movie: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford & Angie Dickenson Vandor: This set of playing cards features the cast of the 1960 movie Ocean’s 11 - the members of the Rat Pack - Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford and Angie Dickenson. Relive 2 decks of playing cards comes in a tin case. On the side of the tin it says: Just Danny Ocean and his 11 pals. Nobody else would have dared it. This set was produced in 2004 by Vandor.Ocean’s 11 Playing Card Set Featuring the Cast of the 1960 Movie: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford & Angie Dickenson

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Hey pallies, the Dino-adulation just goes on and on at Miss Dawn's "Chick Flicks Musicals." The newest Dino-feature is some Dino-prose on Helmer Numero four..."The Wrecking Crew."

Glads to read that over the years Miss Dawn has changed her Dino-perspective on our Dino as Matt Helm. Digs that lovin' pix of our Dino and Miss Sharon...and be sures to enjoys some Dino-pleasure with some clips a la "Wrecking Crew."

We continue to say our Dino-thanks to Miss Dawn for her outstandin' Dino-contributions to spreadin' the Dino-message far and wide. Dino-diggin', DMP

Monday, May 24, 2010The Wreaking Crew(1968)

The Wrecking Crew (1968). Cast: Dean Martin, Elke Sommer and Sharon Tate. The fourth and final film in a series of comedy-spy-fi featuring Martin as secret agent Matt Helm. As with the first three movies (The Silencers, Murderers' Row and The Ambushers), the film is based on Donald Hamilton's 1960 novel of the same name.

The story is simular to the Bond novel/film, Goldfinger, Helm's assignment is to bring down the evil count who is trying to steal gold. Along the way, Helm is partnered with a British agent played by Sharon Tate an accident-prone spy. Chuck Norris makes his film debut in a small role. It was the first film in the series to not be written by comedy writer Herbert Baker but by former police reporter and crime novel author William P. McGivern. The Wreaking Crew, is best known for the perfomance of Sharon Tate, who performed her own stunts and martial arts scenes cheroeographed by Bruce Lee.

When this movie first came out I thought it was a little corny..but, now I really enjoy watching it.

The clip that Miss Dawn shares is our Dino doin' a solo on "Do It." Here in our Dino proclaims "You gotta do it yourself." Truly this coulda be our Dino's theme song for his amazin' life and teachin's....our Dino's key to success was that he did it all himself....didn't ever need nobody or nothin'...our Dino's the greatest example of a self-made man ever!

Thanks Miss Dawn for continuin' to shows so so much pure and deep Dino-devotion to your blogg readers! Dino-delightedly, DMP

Brooklyn Switchboard operator Ella Peterson, works for telephone answering service Susanswerphone. Even though Sue's orders are only to "take and give" messages, Ella uses different voices to help her clients with their lives, even posing as Santa Claus to convince a small child to behave. Ella becomes interested in playwright Jeffrey Moss, who calls her "Mom". He just recently lost his writing partner and his having trouble finishing the outline for his play.. "Mom" tries to boost his ego, but instead.. Jeffrey drinks himself to sleep.

Meanwhile, Inspector Barnes and his assistant Francis, suspect that Susanswerphone is really a prostitution ring, pretend to be magazine reporters, interview Ella while wire-taping the switchboard.

Sue's boyfriend, J. Otto Prantz, moves into the apartment to run his music distribution business, Titanic Records, which is really a front for a bookkeeping operation. During a meeting with his bookies, Otto explains the new system: When customers place their bets, they will be translated into a classical music record album code for instance, "Beethoven" is really Belmont Park and "five hundred orders" is a $500 bet.

The next morning, when Jeffrey does not answer Ella's wake up call, she goes to his apartment, excited to finally to know what he looks like. The trouble is, how will she tell him who she really is?

I thought Holliday and Martin where cute together. At first I thought it might be an odd paring.. The songwriting dentist will give you a few chuckles.

Hey pallies, and nows more from our great Dino-diggin' pallie Dawn. This here Dino-post comes 'gain likes from our newest Dino-holic Dawn at "Chick Flicks Musicals." It's simply a stellar Dino-trib-clip sets to the Dino-vibe "Sway." A great song with some outstandin' Dino-pixs.

Great to see our Dino-chick Dawn on such a Dino-roll....keeps up this essential Dino-work Miss Dawn.....don't know how many pallies you will be bringin' to knowin', lovin', and cherishin' our amazin' Dino! Dino-thrilled, DMP

Sunday, May 23, 2010Dean Martin - Sway (music video / tribute)

"Sway" is the English version of "Quien Sera", a 1953 mambo song by Mexican composer and bandleader Pablo Beltrán Ruiz. In 1954 the English lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel and recorded by Dean Martin (his recording reached number fifteen on the Billboard magazine best-seller chart). Since then the song has been recorded and remixed by many artists. Posted by Dawn at 5:10 AM Labels: dawn author, dean martin

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Hey pallies, and likes here is more Dino-magic from Miss Dawn's site "Chick Flicks Musicals." Again, loves how Miss Dawn has shared some Dino-details 'bout the song and flick from which it came that are likes totally new to this Dino-holic. Just goes to show that even if you loves our Dino to the max, there is always somethin' new to learn 'bout his life and times.

Again, thanks Miss Dawn and keeps sharin' more Dino-clips with your pallies so that they gets as likes totally Dino-addicted as you are...and likes how cool willa that be!!!! To view this post in it's original Dino-format, just click on the tagg of this here Dino-gram. Dino-ever, DMP

Saturday, May 22, 2010

My Rifle, My Pony and Me - Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson

The song "My Rifle, My Pony and Me" was originally used as the theme for Red River (1948), another John Wayne western. The original title was "Settle Down".

On May 8th, just one week into shooting ‘Rio Bravo’, Ricky Nelson celebrated his 18th birthday. As a gift, John Wayne and Dean Martin gave him a 300 lb. sack of steer manure, which they then threw Nelson into as a rite of passage.

Dean Martin's agent approached Howard Hawks to consider his client for the role of the drunken deputy Dude. Hawks agreed to meet with Martin at 9:30 the next morning. When Hawks learned that Martin had done a show in Las Vegas until midnight, and hired a plane to fly him to the meeting, Hawks was so impressed that he simply sent Martin to get a costume and told him he had the part.

One of Dean Martins favorite past times was to watch, OLD WESTERNS. Posted by Dawn at 7:22 AM Labels: dawn author, dean martin

An Italian-American singer, film actor and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "Mambo Italiano", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That A Kick In The Head?". One of the leaders of the "Rat Pack", he was a major star in four areas of show business: concert stage/night clubs, recordings, motion pictures, and television who was nicknamed the King of Cool. Click picture to view fan websight.

Hey pallies, likes here is numero 3 of the series of Dino-clips that Miss Dawn continues to feature at her "Chick Flicks Musicals" blog-pad. Loves how Dawn not only is postin' some outstandin' vids of our beloved Dino, but takin' the time to share some pertinent Dino-details that likes adds to our Dino-edification.

Memories are indeed made of our Dino...and again, ilovedinomartin thanks Miss Dawn for showin' such true Dino-devotion to share with her readers more and more classic Dino-moments helpin' her pallies to fall head over heels with our Dino as she obviously has! It's chicks like Dawn who are encouragin' the spread of the Dino-message here, there, and every Dino-where! To sees this in it's original Dino-format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-post. Dino-abundantly, DMP

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Dean Martin - Memories Are Made Of This

The most popular version of the song was recorded by Dean Martin. It reached #1 on the Billboard chart for six weeks in 1956, and became his biggest hit. He was backed by The Easy Riders (who consisted of Gilkyson, Dehr, and Miller), who wrote it. Posted by Dawn at 5:35 AM Labels: dawn author, dean martin

An Italian-American singer, film actor and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "Mambo Italiano", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That A Kick In The Head?". One of the leaders of the "Rat Pack", he was a major star in four areas of show business: concert stage/night clubs, recordings, motion pictures, and television who was nicknamed the King of Cool. Click picture to view fan websight.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Hey pallies, likes here's 'nother amazin' Dino-clip from the pad "Chick Flicks Musicals" hosted by Miss Dawn. Lefts some Dino-patter thankin' Dawn for spreadin' some Dino-love 'round and she not only left me the kindest of kind Dino-thoughts, but you will note she has also so so graciously created a Dino-link to ilovedinomartin........

ilovedinomartin expresses our deepest of deep Dino-appreciato to Miss Dawn for openly and creatively sharin' her passion for our beloved Dino and the spreadin' of the Dino-message. Miss Dawn plans to continue to share more classic Dino-clips so stay tunes for more Dino-lovin' a la Dawn!!!! And, likes always pallies, to view this Dino-effort in it's original Dino-format, just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-gram. Dinopsyched, DMP

Friday, May 21, 2010

MAMBO ITALIANO - DEAN MARTIN

"Mambo Italiano" is a song written by Bob Merrill in 1954. Bob scribbled it on a paper napkin in an Italian restaurant in New York using the wall pay-phone to dictate the melody, rhythm and lyrics to the recording studio pianist, under conductor Mitch Miller. Posted by Dawn at 5:09 AM Labels: dean martin

An Italian-American singer, film actor and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "Mambo Italiano", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That A Kick In The Head?". One of the leaders of the "Rat Pack", he was a major star in four areas of show business: concert stage/night clubs, recordings, motion pictures, and television who was nicknamed the King of Cool. Click picture to view fan websight.

Hey pallies, likes every where you turns these days on the 'net our Dino is waitin' there for ya. A lady tagged Dawn at her chick-focused pad, "Chick Flicks Musicals" has begun to share some classic musical clips of our Dino. First up is our Dino's amore song of amore songs..."That's Amore."

This is my personal fav Dino-version of it from "The Caddy." ilovedinomartin says our thanks to Miss Dawn for helpin' her pallies to come to know, amore, and revel in our beloved Dino. Watch for 'nother Dino-tune from Dawn likes really Dino-soon. To view this post in it's original format, just click on the tagg of this here Dino-gram. Full of Dino-appreciato, DMP

Thursday, May 20, 2010

DEAN MARTIN - THAT'S AMORE'

The Caddy (1953). Was released on a double bill with another Martin and Lewis picture, You're Never Too Young. This was the team's first film since 1950's At War with the Army to be produced by their own production company, York Pictures Corporation. It is also known for cameo appearances by some of the leading professional golfers of the time (all playing themselves), Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, and Julius Boros. The Caddy is not a musical, but I wanted to share this song from the movie with you. I hope it gives you a smile. :) Posted by Dawn at 8:02 AM Labels: dawn author, dean martin

DEAN MARTIN- Singer

An Italian-American singer, film actor and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "Mambo Italiano", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That A Kick In The Head?". One of the leaders of the "Rat Pack", he was a major star in four areas of show business: concert stage/night clubs, recordings, motion pictures, and television who was nicknamed the King of Cool. Click picture to view fan websight.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Hey pallies, likes the 'net continues to be likes a total Dino-treasure trove....more and more wonderful Dino-finds just waitin' to be discovered. As you know ilovedinomartin tends to pretty much put the accent on more recent Dino-sharin', but I am hopin' to put more and more Dino-effort in findin' what we mighta call a Dino-back-list of Dino-discoveries.

Today's Dino-post fits likes very well into the back-list Dino-category. From the Guardian pad comes this brillant piece of Dino-prose by author Shawn Levy. As you will read below, Mr. Levy has written no less then four tomes of non-fiction in the lst decade or so that feature our beloved Dino, includin' "Rat Pack Confidential."

This 2005 piece of Dino-prose puttin' the focus on the reationship between our Dino and the jer was written on the eve of the release of Mr. Jerry Lewis's amore to our Dino, "Dean and Me: A Love Story." As you read, you will see how truly and deeply Mr. Shawn Levy diggs our Dino and truly "gets Martin." Loves how Levy calls our Dino his "patron saint." Who better to turn to for guidance in life then our Dino.

Loves Levy's analysis of Martin and Lewis and how much the jer loves our Dino sayin'...."Dean was Jerry's hero, ideal, model, chum and chaperone." If I have ever envied anyone in the whole world it woulda be the jer for havin' the closest of close relationships with our Dino. Coulda goes on and on 'bout how much I digg this Dino-prose from Levy, but I leaves it to you pallies to soak up each and every Dino-dedicated word. Dino-lovin', DMP btw pallies, as always, just clicks on the tagg of this here Dino-gram to read Shawn Levy's Dino-prosin' in it's original format.

O brother, where art thou?They met as nobodies, became best friends and superstars, but ended up refusing to speak to each other. Now, in a new book, Jerry Lewis has come clean about his relationship with Dean Martin. Shawn Levy unpicks the story

I am not a superstitious sort. I don't carry rabbits' feet or tap wood or read a horoscope or even pray. And yet I have a patron saint, albeit one not canonised by Rome: Dean Martin, or, as I like to think of him, St Dean of the Whatever. Dean Martin was impeccable and remote, from the top of his brilliantined curls to the muddy spikes of his golf shoes; from his exquisite comic timing to the butterscotch fluidity of his voice; from the droll irony with which he observed life to the passionate heat he inspired in others.

And the best part of it is that he didn't care. Dean was, as his brilliant biographer Nick Tosches so appositely dubbed him, the ultimate menefregista - an "I-don'tgive-a-damn-ist". His indifference is why I consider him my good luck charm. I have written four books of non-fiction in the past decade, and Dean has put his imprint of taciturn cool on all of them, most crucially in King of Comedy, a biography of Jerry Lewis, in which Dean co-stars as the charismatic big brother figure with whom Jerry spends a crucial decade in one of the most popular comedy acts in entertainment history.

Dean was Jerry's hero, ideal, model, chum and chaperone. Jerry was nobody until he met Dean - and, to be fair, vice versa. Coming from literally nowhere, the pair rode a skyrocketing 10-year career that made them staples of American showbiz for the rest of their lives.

They met when they were just two guys scuffling for a break in Times Square, and they helped forge a new brand of popular entertainment suited to the postwar mood. By the time of their parting, they were superstars with a chasm of cold space between them. And then, as if paying a price for their success, they avoided each other assiduously and spoke perhaps two or three dozen times over the next four decades - and this after being so inseparable that people whispered about them.

Yet for all this latter bitterness, Jerry to this day professes an undying love for his former partner. Dean passed away a decade ago while the rest of the world was having Christmas supper, and Jerry is marking the anniversarywith the release of a memoir, Dean and Me: A Love Story. It contains revelations and confessions of mobsters and women and golf matches and drunken sprees, and it seems Dean has grown as a comedian and a man in his former partner's eyes since his death.

For much of the new material, we have only Jerry's word, which can be a wobbly foundation upon which to rest a nonfictional narrative. Jerry's memory, while impressive, is often shaped by sentimentality and vainglory and his purpose of the moment. Dean would never have written a memoir - his idea of serious reading was a couple of comic books.

Certain things, however, are beyond dispute. In July, 1946, a 19-year-old comic pantomimist born Jerome Levitch and a 29-year-old Italian crooner born Dino Crocetti, who had a slight previous acquaintance based on common friends and a couple of shared bookings, teamed up as a singing comedy act at the 500 Club on the boardwalk in Atlantic City.

The act came together because Jerry had been bombing on his own and begged Dean's manager to send the singer down from New York to save his skin. Jerry was performing a "dummy" or "record" act; he would bring a Victrola out on stage with him and comically lip-synch and distort himself while various records played. The sheer elasticity and abandon of the young comic put the thing over, but you couldn't imagine a lifetime of it - and more importantly, the gangsters who ran the 500 Club didn't think it was funny.

During the previous winter, Jerry had been on the bill with Dean at a Manhattan night spot and the two had turned the final show of the evening into a pastiche, with Jerry antically interrupting songs that, to be fair, Dean wasn't exactly killing himself to deliver straight. So when he was threatened with losing his Atlantic City gig, Jerry recollected Dean and those hijinks and rang him. He came, they threw together an act, and within days they were a smash hit.

To look at them, they hardly made a natural pair: Dean with his leonine beauty and slow, assured touch with a song or a joke; Jerry gaunt and gangly and hysterical and screeching like a klaxon horn. And off stage they were equally ill-matched. Jerry was Dean's temperamental opposite - needy and loud and insecure. And yet this marriage of contrasts made for delicious entertainment.

Their show was a deliberate shambles. Jerry might do a little of his record act, pretending to be an MC, then introduce Dean, who would start to sing while Jerry repeatedly interrupted. It was loosely scripted - Dean was, as Jerry always says, "funny in his bones" and could ad-lib perhaps even better than his comedian partner. But the main impression was a kind of Hellzapoppin' breakdown of the normal parameters of nightclub entertainment.

Within weeks of that first recordbreaking gig in Atlantic City, the two were playing at New York's Copacabana club to a glittering audience of movie stars, mafiosi and swells. Almost immediately they were signed to make movies and given their own radio and TV shows, and Dean got a recording contract. Barely one year later, My Friend Irma, the first of their 16 films together, was released to smash box-office. The following year, they joined TV's Colgate Comedy Hour as monthly hosts, regularly beating the powerhouse Ed Sullivan show in the ratings. Their live shows created sensations on a Beatlemania scale.

But as they rose, they lost some of their éclatamong the cognoscenti. During their initial ascent, Orson Welles declared that they were so funny "you would piss your pants". But before long, first at the instigation of producer Hal Wallis and then following Jerry's instinct for the box-office, they geared their work toward a family audience. Jerry became a favourite of kids while Dean's role as a serious singer was shunted off to their stage appearances.

Ever the control freak, Jerry had another important bit of input to the team's image, one that cemented the world's impressions of both men. Each stood about 6ft 1in, but Jerry added lifts to Dean's shoes and had the soles and heels of his own shaved so that Dean appeared taller; on top of that, Jerry always worked in a crouch, so that the Monkey, as he referred to himself, never seemed equal to Dean's Handsome Man.

There was an unusual physical intimacy to their act - Dean would lift Jerry in his arms like a big baby, they would pat one another's cheeks, they nearly kissed on camera at times, staring into each other's eyes with big, sincere grins (try to imagine the same of Laurel and Hardy or Morecambe and Wise). There was a strange hint of something like sexuality between them: twice the pair remade classic romantic comedies as buddy movies, with Jerry appearing in what had been the female lead role (Living It Up, originally Nothing Sacred, and You're Never Too Young, originally The Major and the Minor). Another time, in The Caddy, Jerry wore an apron and unironically scolded Dean like a housewife for missing dinner while playing around with some floozy. This sort of subtext fed ludicrous backstage rumours that Dean and Jerry were lovers, a rumour that nevertheless persists in modern skin - witness Rupert Holmes' novel Where the Truth Lies, now a film by Atom Egoyan, in which a Dean-and-Jerry-like pair engage in an ambi-sexual menage a trois with fateful consequences.

Eventually, the two simply outgrew one another. For the last three years of their partnership, Jerry's almost visceral need to control the act conflicted with Dean's characteristic lassitude. More and more often, writers and directors of Jerry's choosing were shaping their material, while Dean's parts shrank

Dean, who had been a blackjack dealer and a boxer before hitting on singing as a career, wasn't blind to Jerry's machinations, and he dismissed his partner's ambitions to comic genius as "Chaplin shit". But he had people whispering earnestly in his ear that Jerry was holding him back from greater things, and Jerry had sycophants giving him similar advice. They fought openly on film sets and privately behind the scenes. They tried to split as early as 1954 but were bound to their contracts by their film and television masters. Finally, they separated for good precisely on the 10th anniversary of their 500 Club debut, playing a farewell show at the Copacabana.

In the subsequent years, they literally didn't speak. Once or twice they collided on the back lot at Paramount or in some Vegas green room. But often they deliberately ducked one another. In 1960, when Dean went off Rat Pack-ing, Jerry was persona non grata, and it's a sign of his hurt and resentment that he responded to the Rat Pack's Las Vegas shoot of Ocean's Eleven by going to Miami and making a resort hotel movie of his own, The Bellboy. By 1970, Jerry's career had spun out of control in a haze of drug addiction and the changing fashions in comedy, but Dean was a bigger star than ever, with a smash hit weekly TV series and a film and recording career to rival Frank Sinatra's.

In 1976, Sinatra tried to mend fences between the estranged partners, surprising Jerry during his annual muscular dystrophy telethon by bringing Dean out from the wings. It was a truly spontaneous and emotional reunion - the two stood patting each other and smiling through tears as though a loved one had returned from the dead. But despite Jerry's entreaties after the show, Dean never rejoined him on stage or even for mere social interaction. Finally, in 1987, when Dean's golden son, Dean Paul Martin, died in a plane crash, Jerry reached out to him, instigating, at least by Jerry's account, a sporadic telephone relationship.

It's a great story, a showbiz epic of brothers who find and then lose one another. And in its heroic dimension it stands in stark contrast to the actual record Dean and Jerry leave behind - even the best of their film work is formulaic and lazy, and their TV appearances only hint at the brilliance that endeared them to a nation. Nothing can compete with the truth of what the two achieved and what they felt for one another during and after it. Factual accuracy aside, Jerry is no doubt being emotionally honest in Dean and Me. In giving us more insight into this amazing, unlikely marriage - and how could he not? - he metes out showbiz gold.

· Shawn Levy is the author of Rat Pack Confidential, and his most recent book is The Last Playboy: The High Life of Porfirio Rubirosa (Fourth Estate). Dean and Me: A Love Story is out next week.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Hey pallies, as promised here is a portion of a January 2006 interview conducted by Alon Miasnikov of "Alternative-zine" with heavy metal rocker Bob Mitchell in which Mr. Mitchell shares the depth of his Dino-devotion. As you review this portion of the interview you will note that Mitchell got hooked on our Dino at the tender age of 5 and continues to groove on the Dino-sound to this very Dino-day. 'Specially loves this here Dino-comment.....

"Besides, if you think about it, Dean had a Metal attitude back then, you know. Wine, Women and Song. I mean isn't that what Metal is all about?"

Ain't it likes really just the coolest to have our Dino thought of in heavy metal terms....the Dino-attraction is simply, obviously for EVERYONE!!!!!! Thanks to Miasnikov for conductin' this interview and for Bob Mitchell for so boldly, bravely, and openly proclaim his Dino-passion in such glowin' Dino-terms!!!!! To read the entire interview, likes just clicks on the tagg of this here Dino-gram. Dino-sharin', DMP

A bit about the history of the band, how did the band originally form?Bob Mitchell: Oh God the history question again (Laughs)... sure thing. I love telling the story especially when we are being introduced to new fans. Please understand that this will be one of the longest answers, I believe, you will ever get (Laughs), OK? Alright then, here we go. Wow this goes way back just so you understand. I've been into music all my life. My first exposure to music was Dean Martin when I was five years old. Dean was a great entertainer. Besides, if you think about it, Dean had a Metal attitude back then, you know. Wine, Women and Song. I mean isn't that what Metal is all about? He's my showbiz idol. So from Dean it evolved into The Beatles then Deep Purple, KISS and it just snowballed from there which of course led to my involvement in bands and so forth. Now let's see, the first album I ever bought was "KISS ALIVE". The first Metal album I ever bought was "MAIDEN JAPAN". My love for Metal has, obviously, never diminished and it never will, but, even after all these years I still listen to Dean Martin.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Hey pallies, from the web page of "Road Runner Records" comes more respect for our Dino. In the followin' report, metal singer Bob Mitchell bids "'A Respectful Farewell To Our Fallen Father Of Heavy Metal'" Ronnie James Dio by sayin' in part...

"I feel really bad for the younger fans of music today as they will never have what our generation had. There is no one to look up to with these future bands. These kids will not have a DIO, a JUDAS PRIEST, a Dean Martin or a BEATLES. Think of what is out there now."

A heavy metal rocker payin' trib to 'nother heavy metal rocker by liftin'up the name of our Dino...now likes how cool is that?!??!?!?! Am likes totally psyched to see a metal rocker payin' deep homage to our beloved Dino! This gots me to wonderin' if there was more 'bout Mitchell's Dino-devotion to be found on the web...and indeed our Dino led me to learn more of Mr. Bob's Dino-affection...so stays tuned to ilovedinomartin for more of Mr. Bob Mitchell's Dino-devotion.

I likes pallies continue to be in likes total Dino-wonderment over pallies of all types and stripes groovin' on our King of Cool. May Ronnie James Dio rest in peace and may the name of our Dino continue to be lifted up forever!!!! To read this post in it's original format, again, just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-gram to goes there. Dino-amazed, DMP

"I can't believe that I am actually experiencing this. I am truly devastated. But in his death, I find strength to carry on. I have my family, my work at the hospital and the support of my closest friends.

"This is a very sad day, to say the very least. I am truly hurt by the loss of our friend and hero, Ronnie James Dio.

"If there are any of you who recently had a falling out with someone you care for deeply, please remember to hold them close to your heart, because as it is still proven, life is way too short.

"Many of my heroes are fading, but their works and legacies are the only things to hang on to and cherish.

"I feel really bad for the younger fans of music today as they will never have what our generation had. There is no one to look up to with these future bands. These kids will not have a DIO, a JUDAS PRIEST, a Dean Martin or a BEATLES. Think of what is out there now.

"To any of the veteran bands, please continue to carry the torches and lets show the young ones what rock and metal is really about. Let us use our wisdom to guide them and make them appreciate what once was and can possibly be.

"I keep Ronnie James Dio in prayer and always will to his family, friends, former bandmates and his fans. Let us unite and bid a respectful farewell to our fallen father of hard rock and heavy metal."

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Hey pallies, likes can you image bein' the guest at a pallie's house where you gets to lounge in their "Dean Martin Suite"? Well, today's Dino-post is more cool prose from Mr. Tim Sampson from the Memphis Magazine, who shares how Mr. Pat Halloran has decorated suites in his pad in honor of our Dino and the frankie.

Mr. Sampson is the brillant and insightful writer of yesterday's Dino-post from Memphis Mag on why he thinks our Dino has it over the frankie in each and every Dino-way. Well, I did a little Dino-searchin' at that site and found that Mr. Tim had done a interview tagged "Pack Rat" 'bout the cool digs tht Halloran had created honorin' our beloved Dino and the frankie.

This Dino-post is that portion that features our great man with some cool shots of some of the huge Dino-treasure that is included in the Dino-pad. Oh, how stellar it woulda be to be hosted in this Dino-paradise! Thanks to Mr. Tim Sampson for sharin' this unique was to show our Dino such amazin' Dino-devotion. Dino-desirin', DMP p.s., as usual, just clicks on the tagg of this here Dino-gram to view the original article in it's fullest form.

Pack Rat

When it comes to collectibles of two cool crooners, Pat Hallorans got some suite stuff.

By Tim Sampson

April 1, 2010

When you enter the oversized, double doors of Graystone, pass through the foyer with its amazingly high ceilings, and either walk up the spiral stairway or take the elevator to the second floor, one of the first things you encounter is a closed door with a metal plate on it engraved with the words, "The Frank Sinatra Suite." Just down the hallway, there's an identical set-up with the words, "The Dean Martin Suite." But Graystone is not a Hollywood boutique hotel the Rat Pack stars once frequented and subsequently had rooms named after them, like New Orleans' famous Hotel Pontchartrain that boasts suites named after regular guests Elizabeth Taylor, Tennessee Williams, and others. This is the South Bluffs home of Memphian and Orpheum Theater executive director Pat Halloran, who, when he designed the house, just wanted to have some fun.

A devotee of most things show business (Halloran is also a Broadway play investor), his two favorites stars are Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. So when he built the home and planned to have very comfortable, private guest suites for overnight visitors, he figured he would allow them to stay in good company with memorabilia from and related to the "Chairman of the Board" and the "King of Cool."

"My two favorites have always been Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin," says Halloran, who has certainly met and befriended his share of actors, singers, and other celebrities throughout his career. "I saw them in Vegas and have always been intrigued by their movies, and they are both just super great guys. So when we built the house, I decided to have some fun and name the suites after them. They are very private, with full baths and walk-in closets, but I thought they should be entertaining as well." ........................................

Down the hall in The Dean Martin Suite, a similar array of mementos, also purchased at auctions (charity auctions in many cases) and accepted as gifts from friends, includes photos of Deano, album covers, two shadowbox-framed golf clubs that belonged to Martin, a framed sheet music cover for the famed hit "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" (which cost a whopping 75 cents in its day), and one of Halloran's favorites: a rare, limited-edition print of a painting by German artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner depicting caricatures of Martin, Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr.

That one hangs above the bed as well, across from what might scream Deano the most: a large oil painting of a martini, complete with one green olive, which came from the King of Cool's home in Los Angeles. M

Monday, May 17, 2010

Hey pallies, here's 'nother stellar Dino-honorin' post. From the pages of Memphis Magazine and a feature tagged Point/Counterpoint comes Mr. Tim Sampson's prose on what makes our Dino oh-so-much greater then the frankie. Sampson's thoughts are simply thrillin' to read....simply more great thoughts on what makes our beloved Dino the greatest of the great.

So once again, ilovedinomartin brings you more Dino-devotion for 'nother Dino-phile who truly "gets Martin." Thanks to Memphis mag and Mr. Tim Sampson for liftin' up the name of our Dino and helpin' other to gets likes whys truly our Dino is all that matters.... To view this in it's original format, likes just click on the tagg of this Dino-gram. Dino-only-focused, DMP

Features » Point/Counterpoint

Frank Sinatra vs. Dean Martin

By Mary Helen Randall and Tim Sampson

Dean Martin

From a fan's distance, it may look like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin lived almost parallel lives.

Both were accomplished singers and actors and both were members of the famed Hollywood Rat Pack. Both were huge in Vegas, both had multiple marriages, and both were reported to have ties to organized crime. They were also very good friends who fought for civil rights by refusing to perform in clubs and casinos that wouldn't allow their good friend Sammy Davis Jr. the same courtesies. Both were sons of Italian immigrants. Both were good guys.

But while Sinatra was busy playing politics in the early 1970s and supporting soon-to-be-ousted President Richard Nixon and helping pay the corruption-scandal legal bills of resigned Vice President Spiro Agnew — along with announcing his retirement from show business — Martin was in the middle of his nine-season variety hour, the super-popular Dean Martin Show, which lasted 245 episodes and cemented his image as one of the funniest, most charming men in show business. Who today doesn't remember his signature song, "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime"?

Plus, he was much more handsome than Sinatra and knew how to fall through and destroy a fake piano with a cigarette in one hand and cocktail in the other, without spilling a drop, even if it was really just apple juice. Now that is a skill.

While Frank had some success as an actor, Dean starred in more than 50 films himself, not the least of which was Toys in the Attic, a fabulous Southern Gothic film based on the Lillian Hellman play. Even as a child, I was riveted. And let us not forget Dean in those wonderful Matt Helm movies that poked fun at James Bond.

As for those organized-crime ties, Sinatra was allegedly a wannabe and went to them. Martin had such charm that they came to him, but he did them small favors only when he felt like it. He didn't need them to make him feel important. When you're on your own variety show with, among other luminaries, with your friend Frank Sinatra as a special guest, who has time to impress the mob?

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Hey pallies, likes today's Dino-devotion comes from a lady named Gilby and her blog "What We're Watching On Televison" (clicks on tagg of this Dino-post to goes there). Miss Gilby has been runnin' a series of posts on her 25 fav TV Actors with the contents of this Dino-gram comin' from the end of her series "GILBY'S TOP FIVE FAVORITE TV ACTORS."

I'm like so so delighted to report that our Dino made the cut in her top 5, in fact rankin' at numero duo on her list. Nows, while I can always and ever only think of our Dino as numero uno in anybody's list, anywhere, anytime, I am pumped to see this 43 year old high school mathematics instructor rate our great man very high on the list.

Below are the stellar words of Dino-praise that Miss Gilby writes in support of her Dino-passion. Loves to read that this lady's gran musta helped her grandgirlpallie to comes to know, love, and "marvel" at our beloved Dino.

ilovedinomartin wants to thanks Miss Gilby for openly and passionately sharin' her oh so deep Dino-devotion with her blog readers, in turn helpin' 'em to grow in their Dino-love as well. Gotta say pallies, does this Dino-heart Dino-good to keeps readin' more and more Dino-testimonies from pallies of all ages, all stages proclaimin' how much theys love our King of Cool!!!! Dino-passionately, DMP

Dean Martin -- Yes, it's a stretch. However, I have such fond and happy memories of The Dean Martin Show as well as his celebrity roasts. My grandmother was a big fan of Dino so she and I watched his show and his roasts together. I marveled at how he could just own the stage everytime he walked onto it. Whether he was singing, doing a comedy skit, or dancing with the "Golddiggers," Martin had panache. Despite being a Jersey girl, I still pick Dean over Frank Sinatra as my favorite male vocalist. I've always been drawn to the way Martin could work with anyone, he seemed to be genuinely liked by whomever he was doing a scene or duet with. He was spontaneous and loved live audiences. In fact, I think he fed off their energy and that's why he was always in top form. I think what I loved most about Dean Martin was the fact that he didn't take himself too seriously. He could laugh at himself and graciously accept his guests poking fun at him. To me, he was a rarity -- a true "triple threat." He could do dramas, comedies, and musicals. When Dean Martin died in 1995, it truly marked the end of an era.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Hey pallies, our Dino-man Kinezoe has dones it again.....sharin' 'nother outstandin' Dino-post at his blog en espanoel "No Todo Es Kippel." What a stellar pix of our beloved Dino dancin' with the Bing and thens a stellar Dino-vid of our great man and the Mills Bros as they gets our Dino dancin' up a storm and moon-walkin'.

Gotta 'fess up that watchin' our Dino dancin' makes me realize all the Dino-more that there never was, never will be anyone as gifted as our Dino...there is simply no end to what our Dino can do!!!!

Pallies please note that I have added the translation of Kinezoe's Dino-prose for our Dino-edification. Thanks to our totally sold out to Dino man, Kinezoe....please, please showin' your likes total Dino-devotion at your blog leadin' so many more pallies to comes to know, love, and honor our Dino!!!! To view Kinezoe's post in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-gram. Dino-awed, DMP

Friday, May 14, 2010

Hey pallies, likes I can't tells you how much I loves this candid pix of our Dino relaxin' on the set of the flick "Sergeants 3." Founds this over at our Dino-girl Catie's Dino-blog effort, "For The Good Times"...just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-gram to see her current Dino-devotion.

Miss Catie is currently usin' this outstandin' Dino-photo as her header pix and I quired her if likes she remembers where she discovered it, but alas, she had no recollection. So ilovedinomartin sez our thanks to Miss Catie and likes to whoever, whenever put this Dino-image up for all our Dino-delight. Dino-groovin', DMP

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Hey pallies, some Dino-time ago, ilovedinomartin 'lerted you to a new piece of romance fiction tagged "Fools Rush In" that features our Dino and his music. Well, gotta say I am so so Dino-delighted to have like this Dino-gram feature part of an interview with Miss Janice Hanna Thompson, author of Fools Rush In," where in Miss Hanna Thompson very openly and very boldly proclaims "I'm a Dean Martin fanatic."

From the blog "Finding Hope Through Fiction," blogger Miss Nora St. Laurent quires Miss Janice....."If you had to choose between Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin, who would you pick as your favorite? Why?" And, as the tagg of this Dino-gram proclaims "I LOVE Dino."

So cool to note that Miss Janice speaks oh so briefly 'bout the Dino-prose that she wrote for this here ilovedinomartin. You will find that Dino-post at........http://ilovedinomartin.blogspot.com/2009/09/dinolicious-new-romantic-comedy.html.

Hanna Thompson aludes to a Dino-tune from you tube and you will find that at the end of this Dino-post...."Mambo Italiano."

Thanks to Miss Nora for interviewin' Miss Janice Hanna Thompson, and thanks Miss Janice for showin' your Dino-devotion so so openly....helpin' others to come to know, love, and honor our Dino!!!! To view the entire interview, just click on the tagg of this Dino-gram to goes to the original post. Dino-pysched, DMP

I loved some of your discussion questions for Fools Rush In so I thought I’d ask you a few. If you had to choose between Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin, who would you pick as your favorite? Why?

Oh, ack! I was hoping no one would ever ask me this! Honestly, I LOVE Dino. I’m a Dean Martin fanatic (so much so that I wrote an article for a Dino blog several months back). Remember the old Dean Martin comedy hour? What a great show (and what great guests). Loved it! Love the tone in his voice. What’s the right word to describe it? Schmaltzy? Schmoozy? Sexy? (Can I say that in a Christian blog?) At any rate, I love him. And if you really want to know what motivated my zeal for that first book, you’ll have to follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S-7Ap6J_FU My book proposal included that link, by the way. I figured if the editor could catch the vision, he/she would love hearing Dino sing! I love Ol’ Blue Eyes, too, but Dino still wins out.

Hey pallies, been tryin' to catch up with some of our Dino-lovin' pallies from all over the Dino-globe. One dude that is truly sold out to our Dino is our pallie Kinezoe from Spain and today's Dino-gram comes from his cool blogg "No todo es kippel."

Our Dino-devoted Kinezoe invites his followers to "Relax" and groove on the special Dino-tune "Welcome To My World." And the Dino-clip that Kinezoe has chosen is an outstandin' Dino-trib-vid set to that oh so Dino-invitational-song, of which the lyrics are also included for our Dino-edification!!!! Also so diggs the groovy Dino-pix that our pallie has chosen to enhance his Dino-message with.

You will note that I have included Kinezoe's original post in Spanish along with the English translation. To view this post in it's original format, just click on the tagg of this here Dino-gram.

Hats out to our Dino-holic pallie Kinezoe for spreadin' the message and helpin' so many come to know, love, and honor our Dino. Truly it is guys like Kinezoe who are makin' all the Dino-difference in keepin' the Dino-message alive and glowin' and growin! Dino-devotedly, DMP

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Hey pallies, we sez our thanks to our pallie Mark over at popculturefanboy for today's Dino-story (clicks on tagg of this Dino-gram to goes there). Mr. Mark shares 'nother significant day in our Dino's life with a double dose of Dino-history.

First up on May 12, 1949 we learn of the Martin and Lewis Radio programme at NBC when the boys visit the Capitol Records studio to record a new tune. Loves the Dino and the jer pix that Mark has chosen to use...one that is new to this Dino-holic. Wonderin' if this Dino-pix was indeed shot the day of the recordin' of that radio programme.

Second, on May 12, 1958 we learn that our Dino hit numero 6 with his classic single "Return To Me." For your Dino-listenin' pleasure have included a clip playin' the original Dinotune.

Kudos to Mr. Mark for continuin' to lift up the life and times of our Dino and his many and varied connects with Capitol Records. Dino-sharin', DMP

1949 - On NBC's radio show, The Martin and Lewis Show, Dean and Jerry are at Capitol Records to record a new tune and get tips on how to sing folk songs from guest Burl Ives

1958 - Dean Martin (with Gus Levine and His Orchestra and Chorus)'s Capitol Records single "Return To Me" is #6.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Hey pallies, likes our Dino is everywhere!!!! Our great man's music is now bein' featured in a new freature film en francais.

Today's Dino-message is a flick review of the french spy spoof tagged "OSS 117: Lost in Rio." From the web page of the Hollywood Reporter, from the pen of Mr. Frank Scheck, comes this report on this new and very hip big screen caper.

Was thrilled to read that our Dino's huge hit, "Gentle On My Mind" is an important part of this film's soundtrack. Think of the millions of neaveau hipsters who may turn on to the Dino-sound just by viewin' this with it flick!!!!

Likes I did search youtube for a clip of "Lost In Rio" that includes our Dino's tune, but alas, did not have such a Dino-encounter. So, for your Dino-viewin' and Dino-listenin' pleasure have included a clip of our beloved Dino havin' a swingin' time singin' "Gentle" on this TV show.

Just gives me such a thrill pallies to know that flick after flick are givin' our Dino the nod when it comes to their soundtrack music. Thanks to Mr. Frank Scheck and the Hollywood Reporter to puttin' us on to this excitin' Dino-news. To view the review in it's original format, as aways, just clicks on the tagg of this here Dino-gram. Dino-delightedly, DMP

Film Reviews

OSS 117: Lost in Rio -- Film Review

By Frank Scheck, May 10, 2010 10:13 ET

"OSS 117: Lost in Rio"Bottom Line: This French spy spoof is no "Austin Powers."NEW YORK -- We've had Derek Flint, Maxwell Smart, Austin Powers and innumerable other lampoons of spies and secret agents, so why shouldn't the French get into the act with "OSS 117: Lost in Rio"? This sequel to 2006's "OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies" spoofs one of their iconic characters, Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, the hero of a series of novels and films dating to the late 1940s.

Unfortunately, the genre has gotten a bit stale by now, and this mostly unfunny effort -- though it might have made them laugh silly in its home country -- is unlikely to appeal to art house audiences on this side of the Atlantic.

Reprising his role as the title character is Jean Dujardin, whose deadpan comedic style is the best element of the otherwise over-the-top proceedings.

Set 12 years after the previous installment, this one has 117 jetting down to Rio to retrieve a microfilm listing the names of World War II French collaborators (he's astonished to discover there were any). Joining forces with a beautiful -- naturally -- female Mossad agent (Louise Monot), he finds himself facing off against various bad guys, including Chinese gangsters and an aged Nazi.

Director Michel Hazanavicius perfectly apes the stylistic mannerisms of '60s-era spy thrillers, from cheesy soundtrack selections -- in this case, Dean Martin's cover of "Gentle on My Mind" -- to split-screen visuals to groovy costumes and hairstyles. He also throws in numerous gratuitous Hitchcock references, with copious riffs on "Vertigo" and "North by Northwest."

Most of the film's tired humor stems from the clueless 117's casual racism and misogyny, expressed largely through an endless series of anti-Semitic comments that prove more tasteless than funny.

For every comic sequence that works -- an agonizingly slow foot chase in a hospital between 117 and the Nazi while both are hooked up to IVs -- there are more that fall flat: 117 tries in vain to cook a crocodile for dinner. One would guess the gags involving an American CIA agent whose language is peppered with endless vulgarisms played a lot better in France than they do here.

Smirking as expertly as Sean Connery, Dujardin admittedly is a hoot as the sexist secret agent. It's too bad his terrifically self-deprecating comic performance is undercut by the lameness of everything that surrounds him.